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This year, the Emergency Nurses Association (ENA) is celebrating Emergency Nurses Week from Oct. 11 to Oct. 17. Emergency Nurses Day is Wednesday, Oct. 14. In a year when Ebola and the measles made international headlines, this year’s theme is “Celebrating the Courage of Nurses Worldwide,” recognizing that emergency nurses courageously stand at the front line of emergency care every day. Be sure to thank an emergency nurse today – and every day.

By Ginger Wirth, RN

I recently had the pleasure of being on a call that discussed provider burnout – from nurses to doctors to advanced practice providers and anyone else who “provides” care for patients and their families. The speaker, Dan Smith, MD, Studer Group® coach, national speaker, and practicing emergency department physician, talked about the importance of taking care of ourselves, which really resonated with me.

The delivery of healthcare is frequently a juggling act. As providers, we have to balance the clinical care we provide with the compassionate care we share, balanced with our internal beliefs and past experiences. At times these may be in conflict, but those truly dedicated to caring for the patients push much of that aside and do all they believe is right at the time to deliver the best possible care and outcomes for the ones we are caring for.

Clinicians have the “clinical” piece “down to a science” and are able to postulate a care plan or diagnosis easily, as most of us are “unconsciously skilled” when it comes to the medicine. It can frequently be the emotional side of caring for patients or even their families that throw us for a loop. Those in emergency medicine can attest that those feelings frequently get pushed to the side while we are in the thick of it and often are forgotten and never truly dealt with. We need to do better and take better care of ourselves.

3 Ways to Take Better Care of Yourself

Three areas where we can make a significant improvement in how we deal with these everyday stressors and take care of ourselves are fairly easy:

1. Sleep is Crucial - There are studies that show that those who are routinely sleep deprived, meaning getting less than 6 hours of sleep at night can have these physical effects:

Heart disease: Cardiovascular disease is the No. 1 killer in the United States. And to think that sleep deprivation plays some part in it boggles the mind.

Anger: Research has shown a correlation between hostility and increased sleep disturbance. So don't blow your stack; sleep on it instead!

Fatigue: Consider this—well over 100,000 car accidents in North America occur every year due to sleep deprivation. More than 6,000 fatalities. Sad, tragic, and unnecessary

Weight gain: Research shows a link between lack of sleep, weight gain, and obesity. Napping to lose weight? That works for me!

Anxiety: Recent research suggests that sleep deprivation can cause anxiety, fear and worry.

The American Heart Association recommends 30 minutes of moderate exercise a day, five days a week, 75 minutes of vigorous exercise a week.

Use some of the latest tools: Pedometers/trackers like Fitbit, Apple watch, Jawbone, Ped, Omron or Garmin. Most have apps that you can share with friends and challenge each other, which make the experience much more fun.

Decreases anxiety and stress

Helps control your weight

Reduces your risk of cardiovascular disease

Reduces your risk for type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome

Reduces your risk of some cancers

Strengthens your bones and muscles

Improves your mental health and mood

Improves your ability to do daily activities and prevent falls, if you're an older adult

Increases your chances of living longer

3. Healthy eating - Remember we get out what we put in!

There is a balance to eating. Most days, eat from each food group: grains, protein, vegetables and fruits, and dairy. Listen to your body. Eat when you're hungry. Stop when you feel satisfied.

Variety is the spice of life (literally). Be adventurous. Choose different foods in each food group. Pick a recipe from that cookbook you bought on sale. You might find a new favorite. Eating a variety of foods each day will help you get all the nutrients you need. Use different spices to vary the taste of even your favorite foods.

Everything in moderation! We say that for most things in life, and food is no different. Don't choose too much or too little of one thing. All foods, if eaten in moderation, can be part of healthy eating. Even sweets can be okay.

One of the most important takeaways from this is BALANCE. As healthcare professionals, it’s just as important that we balance our own lives and health just like we balance the care we provide each and every day. We deliver better care when we feel better ourselves. We make the difference in the lives we touch with every encounter, every day! Let’s give them and ourselves our very best! Next steps from here: Take a walk, eat a carrot and then take a good long nap!

Ginger Wirth, RN, joined EmCare in 2013 as a Divisional Director of Clinical Services for the Alliance Group. Her goal is to make positive changes in healthcare by helping others focus on quality, excellence, and the overall patient experience. Wirth regards her role as Director of Clinical Services as the ideal opportunity to partner with nursing, physician and facility leaders to make positive changes to the entire patient care experience. Her 20-plus year nursing career has been dedicated to quality and excellence, promoting overall positive outcomes and safety for patients.